Dryopteris Oligodonta

Dryopteris oligodonta, commonly known as the Canary Island wood fern, is a majestic and robust fern endemic to the unique Macaronesian archipelago. It is a defining feature of the humid laurel forests (laurisilva) and fayal-brezal woodlands of the Canary Islands, where it thrives in the deeply shaded, moist environments of volcanic ravines. This ancient plant species acts as a living link to the tertiary flora that once dominated the Mediterranean basin before the last ice age. Growing from a sturdy, creeping rhizome, this fern produces spectacular arches of lush green fronds that can reach up to two meters in height. It plays a vital ecological role in its native habitat, capturing moisture from the passing trade-wind clouds and providing shelter for a multitude of forest floor invertebrates.

Hábitat: Found in humid, deep volcanic ravines and under the dense evergreen canopy of Macaronesian laurel forests.